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Dive, dive, dive

by Sarah Modlock

Under the sea there is a world of beauty and danger that you would be mad to miss out on. From stunning coral cathedrals and shoals of magical fish to turtles, dolphins and sharks, you will never want to stop exploring.

I learnt to scuba dive because I was afraid of deep water and wanted to overcome my phobia. I was living in Australia at the time and it seemed crazy to miss the opportunity of getting up close and personal with the Great Barrier Reef. I took a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors, www.padi.com) course which began in the classroom and ended on a gorgeous yacht in the Whitsunday Islands.

It usually makes financial sense to buy a course which includes a few days living aboard a boat afterwards. This enables you to take the 'open water' part of the diving test and then to enjoy your new skills straight away with other beginners and a team of professionals. However, if you're not sure whether you will take to diving then PADI also offers a 'Discover Scuba Diving' programme for you to test the water. Expect to pay from around £30 for the 'Discover' session and anything from about £140 for the Open Water Course, depending on individual retailers.

An alternative to PADI is the British Sub Aqua Club (www.bsac.com). The BSAC was founded in 1953 and has some 45,000 members making it the largest single diving Club in the world. It is run on a not-for-profit basis so expect great value for money. The BSAC qualification structure is slightly different from PADI as it is designed for the challenges of UK waters and covers rescue skills at an earlier stage. But both are recognised worldwide so you can choose to train with one or the other. Also in the UK are the Sub Aqua Association (www.saa.org.uk) and the Scottish Sub Aqua Club (www.scotsac.com), both offering internationally recognised courses.

The BSAC also offers 'try dives' where you can get used to the equipment and experience of scuba in a local swimming pool. These may be run free of charge as the instructors work on a voluntary basis. But you may have to pay a nominal fee of around £25, depending on local pool charges or other costs. The BSAC Try Dive Week 2005 runs from 26 September to 2 October. A briefing and pool dive with an instructor is set at a level fee of £10. Call 0500 947 202 or log on to www.basc.com/meetbranch to find your nearest branch. For the basic Ocean Diver course you will need to buy the £30 training pack, pay joining fees to BSAC of £53 and the joining fee of your local club.

If you have any doubts or are not confident in water then a trial session is a good investment. As it turns out, the open water aspect of diving was not my only hurdle. Breathing underwater was the most alien concept. I took one breath through my regulator in a pool, became convinced that I was about to drown and jumped straight up in panic. This is a stumbling block that many people never overcome. Fortunately, I tried again and was fine, fooling my brain into thinking that breathing underwater beyond the womb was completely natural.

I still come across beginners now who just don't take to diving. Their enjoyment is hampered by having to remember the technical aspects or they find the equipment - particularly the breathing regulator which you hold in you mouth - too uncomfortable. For all these reasons, you can save a lot of money, time and frustration by trying before you dive.

Once you're ready to get qualified, you will need to devote some time to text books in the classroom. Although essential, this is as far from glamour as it gets and is the reason why many people now study the theory before a holiday to save time and avoid being stuck inside when they reach a tropical location. How I wished I had paid more attention in physics. But it's not rocket science and so anyone with common sense can understand the principles which will keep you safe.

Getting all the theory and pool exercises right in the sea is the next challenge. The main difference is waves and not being able to put your feet on the bottom. But diving instructors seem to be universally calm and reassuring. No one has evoked such quiet faith in me since my father taught me to ride my bike without stabilisers. Don't be afraid to ask silly questions or express doubts - it's what they are there for.

The live-aboard experience is all part of the fun. It allows you to fit in as many dives as is safe during each day - and night. The social aspects can also be wonderful. My experiences have been overwhelmingly positive, with fun people, great crew and excellent food. And believe me, after a few great dives, food will take on new meaning.

As you gain confidence and learn more about what you are looking at and how to get more from the sport, the addiction will kick in. With every dive you will enjoy breathtaking ocean life. It's a privilege to be there. Even difficult experiences just feel like growth spurts. I have had cuts, scrapes, chills, leaky masks, bad weather, bad visibility, powerful currents and a hair-raising close encounter with a white tip shark. But all that is for another article. The point is that none of it makes a dent in my passion for diving. I have dived all over the world and even gone back to the classroom to learn more.

So what are you waiting for? Just don't blame me when you get hooked.